Orange City Council has paid tribute to former mayor and long-serving councillor Richard 'Dick' Niven following his death last week.
COLLEAGUES: Dick Niven served as Mayor of Orange for nine years. Pictured (l. to r.) with members of the 1995-1999 Council, Cr Trevor Jaeger, Cr Dick Niven and Cr Russel Turner.
Mr Niven was an elected member of Orange City Council for 27 years from 1980 to 2008, including two terms as mayor, the first from 1981-83. The second occurred in March 1996 when Mr Niven was elected mayor, after the mayor John Davies resigned and died from illness only two weeks later. He continued in the post until 2002.
Orange Mayor Tony Mileto said he was sad to hear the news of Mr Niven's passing.
"I knew Dick Niven over many years, particularly through our involvement with the Orange City Rugby Union Club and my dealings with him in the legal environment," Cr Mileto said.
"Dick was a genuine and thoughtful man, unselfish and always measured and considered in his response to questions I'd asked him. He was generous with his time and openly offered advice where appropriate.
"I remember that he was very proud of his family and of the community of Orange. His contribution to the development and progress of Orange was significant. Orange has lost a good man," Cr Mileto said.
The flags in front of the Civic Centre are flying at half-mast in his honour.
Council CEO David Waddell said Mr Niven had made many contributions to the Orange community over many years.
"As mayor for nine years, Dick Niven was a respected community leader," Mr Waddell said.
NEIGHBOURS: At the time of the Sydney Olympic Games neighbouring Council cooperated to make sure the gold used in gold medals came from the Orange region. Pictured (l.to r.) Blayney mayor John Davis, Cabonne Mayor John Farr and Orange Mayor Dick Niven
"He had a good understanding of the regional dimension of local government. At the time of the Sydney Olympics in 2000, he worked with the neighbouring shires of Blayney and Cabonne to enable the gold for the games' gold medals to come from the Orange region.
"I was impressed by his long-term commitment to the community. While on Council he took a leading role in pushing for the establishment of the Orange Botanic Gardens, but then in retirement he served as president of the Friends of the Orange Botanic Gardens.
"He showed solid leadership when it came to the nuts-and-bolts decisions of running a Council, but he also had the bigger picture in mind when it came to the importance of Council being involved in the cultural life of Orange by supporting the regional art gallery and the pioneering work of the Festival of Arts."
Mr Niven was born in Orange and attended Orange Infants School, Orange Primary School and Orange High School. His father was a deputy Town Clerk of Orange Council, retiring
in the 1950s.
He was a keen swimmer, skier and golfer. He was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in the 2015 Australia Day Honours List. Mr Niven died on 2 January, aged 86.
